While some of the rookie cricketers, with a strictly average domestic season, have received plum contracts from the IPL franchises, some of the CONSISTENT PERFORMERS have been left out, writes SHAYAN ACHARYA.
The season of slam-bang cricket is here. As the evening progresses, the television ratings across the country take a flight in these few weeks, and the season discovers some newer talents every time. Some hog the limelight with the bat, others with the ball and some for their fascinating efforts on the field.
Well, that’s what the Indian Premier League (IPL) is all about. It brings out the talents one had never heard of. And, it celebrates newer heroes — season after season! But then, there is also more to it than meets the eye.
Just like the other side of the coin, the cash-rich league has also time and again conveniently kept aside the talents, who made all heads turn in the domestic season. While that has raised question marks on the ultimate focus of the league, it has also put a blot on the relevance of top performances in the domestic tournaments. While some of the rookie cricketers, with a strictly average domestic season, have received plum contracts from the franchises, some of the consistent performers have been left out.
The fact that domestic performance is certainly not a benchmark for the IPL is evident as the most consistent performer in Ranji Trophy — Ankit Bawne — gets picked by Delhi Daredevils only in the 10th edition, or Ishank Jagggi gets a contract after a long hiatus.
Perhaps, that’s why, as Sportstar got in touch with some of the top performers of this season’s Ranji Trophy, a few of them rued about missing out on IPL contracts, while others chose to take it in a sporting spirit.
As the cricket enthusiasts gear up for more days of quick and fast cricket, a Samit Gohel or a Anupam Sanklecha quietly gear up for their county stints, despite proving their mettle with the willow or the red cherry at the domestic level.
PRIYANK PANCHAL (Gujarat)
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